Iran may play a pre-World Cup friendly with Italy

Tehran Times – AMSTERDAM, Iran national football team may be surprised by a friendly match with Azzurri.

Mehdi Taj and Mohammad Reza Saket, President and Secretary General of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) participated in the fifth FIFA Executive Football Summit in 2017/2018 series in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Tuesday.

The Iranian officials negotiated with their Italian counterparts to extend cooperation with the European federation.

It’s said the Iranian federation has shown interest in holding a training camp in Italy ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Iranian media reports suggest that Team Melli may play a warm up match with Italy in the camp.

Italy failed to qualify for first World Cup in 60 years after play-off defeat to Sweden in November.

Team Melli have been drawn along with one-time World Cup champions Spain, UEFA titleholders Portugal and Morocco in Group B.

Carlos Queiroz’s men will kick off the competition with a match against Morocco on June 15.

Iran, meanwhile, faces Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.